FREEPORT, Ill. — The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been arrested in a group of protesting northern Illinois workers during an act of civil disobedience in Freeport.

Michael Peery, a spokesman for Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, tells The Associated Press that Jackson was taken into custody Wednesday with about a dozen workers. He is expected to be released later in the day.

Freeport police didn’t immediately have comment.

Sensata (sen-SAH’-tuh) Technologies is owned by Bain Capital and in the process of moving its Freeport manufacturing operations to China. That’ll cost Freeport 170 jobs.

Company officials say most of the plant’s revenues are generated in Asia, making the move a logical decision.

The civil rights leader has been among other high-profile supporters who’ve visited the workers. The Rev. Al Sharpton recently held a rally in Freeport.